Id-Code: AA 977
Family: Asclepiadaceae
Origin: North America; Quebec to Manitoba, south to Georgia, Louisana, Texas and New Mexico
Special Features: Beautiful white flowering selection from seed
History: Introduced by JELITTO PERENNIAL SEED in 1992
Colour: Broad colorful inflorescences of pure white
Natural Flowering Period: July - September
Winter Hardiness Zones: Z3-9
Growth Habit: Upright
Foliage: Often solitary stems branched above with narrow, linear-elliptic leaves
Height with Flower: 100 cm (39'')
Spacing between Plants: 45 cm (18'')
Soil Requirement: For average to moist soils, pH 5.8 - 6.8
Location: Full sun
Use: Plant together with Echinacea 'Magnus', Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm', Platycodon 'Hakone White' and Penstemon 'Husker Red'
Specialities: A durable border perennial, excellent cutflower.
Also available as JELITTO GOLD NUGGET SEED^® (AG 977)

Cultural Tips:
Grams per 1000 seeds: 4,762
Seeds per Gram: 210
Seeding Recommendation: 20 g / 1000 plants
Sowing Rate: 4 seeds per cell
Plug tray recommended size(s): 72, 128
Germination: These perennial seeds germinate very irregularly over a long period. Lower temperatures of less than +5°C [41°F] are very effective. Seed trays should not be discarded prematurely. Constant moisture must be maintained. Do not leave in direct sunlight.

Scheduling:
Best Sowing Date: February - May
Sowing to Germination: 4 - 8 weeks
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 6 weeks
Transplanting to salable Plant: 6 - 8 weeks
Cutting-Back at Transplanting: Cut back 1-2 times; once at transplanting; once again 4 weeks later to keep more compact

Growing On:
Container Size(s): 1-2 plugs per 11/12 cm (4 1/2''); 2-3 plugs per 15 cm (6'')
Vernalization: No vernalization required for flowering in the first year.
Forcing: There has been no research on 'Iceballet', but an obvious place to experiment - following vernalization - would be raising daytime temperatures to 60° - 65°F (15° - 17°C). Provide 16 hours of continuous lighting. During the short days of winter, provide a night interruption lighting of 4 hours between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. Some later flowering species can be forced in 14 - 16 weeks and perhaps sooner at warmer temperatures. Further experiments are warranted with 'Iceballet'.
Fertilization: Medium (150-200 ppm)